Man Finds Lottery Ticket in Old Shirt, Wins $24 Million

68 year old Jimmie Smith hanged his old shirt in his closet. The pocket of that shirt was filled with unchecked stack of lottery tickets.

He used to say himself that " i will check the tickets once i get free time.."

Thank god!!! finally he checked his old shirt pocket.. Guess why? Because he had won $24 Million lottery..

A year ago, Smith had bought a ticket to the New York Lotto. The winning numbers for the May 25, 2016 drawing were: 05 - 12 - 13 - 22 - 25 - 35.

The New York Gaming Commission knew the winning ticket, worth $24.1 million, was sold at a bodega in New York City, but it didn't know who bought the ticket. Winners have a year to claim the prize and that expiration day was quickly approaching.

So earlier this year, the New York Lottery started to announce the thing saying that

"We urge New York Lottery players: Check your pockets. Check your glove box. Look under the couch cushions. If you have this winning ticket, we look forward to meeting you," Gweneth Dean, director of the Commission's Division of the Lottery, said at the time.

Smith, a retired security officer, caught a news story about the search for the mystery winner. That inspired him to check his old tickets.

He went up to the closet where the old shirt hung.
When the numbers matched up, he "stood there for a minute thinking, 'Do I see what I think I see?'"

"I had to stick my head out the window and breathe in some fresh air,: he said. "I was in serious doubt. I really had to convince myself this was real."

On Wednesday, the New York Lottery released Smith's name after completing a review.

"We are thrilled that this lucky winner was able to locate this life-changing ticket," Dean, of the gaming commission, said.

Smith chose to receive his payments over the course of 26 years. A father of two and grandfather of 12, he said he plans to have an "all-family discussion" once things settle down.